Like the early Pop Artists, Hanson homed in on the everyday in horrific incidents. The brutal imagery of works such as Motorcycle Accident (1967) and Policeman and Rioter (1967) shocked viewers and instigated a heated debate as to how far an artist should go...

Using cast polychromed fiberglass, vinyl or bronze, and enhanced by real clothing, accessories and props, Hanson's sculptures capture a realism that compels the viewer to approach the figures for a closer look. The viewer is challenged to question the distinction between reality and illusion...

Since the early 1970s Duane Hanson has been making startlingly lifelike sculptures of middle America accomplished through a complex process of casting from live models, recreated in bronze or fibreglass resin.